IN ANOTHER WORLD

Dr. Ren, Sou, and Rema trudged northward, their boots crunching against the uneven path beneath them. The dense forest canopy above provided shade from the sun, but the humid air clung to them, making the journey even more exhausting. By midday, they reached the entrance of a small cave nestled against the base of a jagged hill.

Rema came to an abrupt halt, her voice cutting through the quiet rustle of leaves. "Hey, Sou, stop. I said stop!"

Sou turned around, exasperation clear on his face. "What now? What happened?"

"Nothing," Rema huffed, placing her hands on her hips. "I'm tired, that's all."

Sou raised an eyebrow. "So? What do you want me to do about it? Do you need me to carry you in my arms like some heroic knight or something?"

Rema's eyes narrowed, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Are you full of yourself? I'd rather drop dead than let you carry me!"

"Then why are you telling me this?" Sou retorted, throwing his hands up in mock confusion. "Huh?"

"You little devil!" Rema snapped, her voice rising.

Dr. Ren, who had been quietly observing their exchange, finally stepped in with a frustrated sigh. "Enough! You two, stop it right now. I said stop quarreling!"

Sou shrugged, turning back toward the cave. "Dr., you don't get it. You've never been around girls long enough to understand. Girls are terrifying creatures!"

Rema's eyes widened in indignation. "What did you just say?"

"Nothing, nothing," Sou replied quickly, waving her off with a smirk.

Rema crossed her arms, muttering under her breath. "Forget it. I don't want to waste my energy on you. Anyway, I need to go... you know."

Sou glanced at her, tilting his head. "Now what? You need me to escort you or something?"

Rema groaned, throwing him an exasperated look. "Are you out of your mind? Of course not!"

"Good," Sou said with mock seriousness. "Because that's not happening."

Rema rolled her eyes, muttering as she grabbed a small pouch from her bag. "I'm on my way. Don't follow me, idiot."

As Rema stalked off toward a cluster of trees near the cave, Sou leaned against a boulder, shaking his head with a grin. Dr. Ren settled onto a nearby log, wiping his glasses with a corner of his shirt.

"You know," Dr. Ren said after a moment, "for all your bickering, the two of you have a strange way of understanding each other."

"Don't start, Dr.," Sou replied, running a hand through his hair. "She's impossible."

"And yet," Dr. Ren added with a small smile, "you're always paying attention to her."

Sou didn't reply, his gaze drifting toward the trees where Rema had disappeared. The faint sound of birds chirping filled the silence as the group waited, the tension easing into a brief moment of calm.

Though their journey had only just begun, the dynamic between them—fraught with arguments, teasing, and unspoken care—was already shaping into something that would carry them through the trials ahead.